Interesting. I have to tell you, I am seeing contractors and soldiers play the crap out of these first person shooter games. Eventually you will see a company like Blackwater or similar develop a simulation game that will present PSD, Convoy, or Static Security scenarios in complex arenas. I could envision a game that could be modified by the players or companies and different rules of engagement, SOFA’s, rules for the use of force, codes of conduct, UCMJ, SOP’s, etc. could be added. Even equipment and vehicles could be changed to match what the company uses. The goal is to use this type of contractor gaming platform to condition the brains of the players with some of the scenarios they need to think about and negotiate in the real world of war zone contracting.
If you notice some of the finalists of the contest over the last couple years, you will see some familiar company names that have been involved. I especially perked up when I saw SAIC as one of the participants. So is a PMC or PSC going to introduce a serious game in the near future, or will the only security contractor based games we will see are blood fest games like Army of Two? Who knows, but just so companies know, there is a market for such a thing. Especially if companies are looking at ways to minimize liability and maximize training of it’s contractors and employees. I could even see maritime security based games pop up, and all of this stuff could be used to train up folks and promote what companies are doing out there. –Matt
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Welcome to the official website of theFourth Annual I/ITSEC Serious Games Showcase & Challenge.
Serious Games for Serious TrainingThe goal of Serious Games Showcase & Challenge is to identify innovative game-based technologies and solutions that improve training across all segments for individuals, groups and systems.
Get Serious, Get Recognized!Submit your original serious games entry and have your work reviewed by a panel of military, academia and industry gaming experts. Finalists will be showcased, and winners announced, at I/ITSEC 2009 in Orlando, Florida.
The Serious Games Showcase & Challenge12 Finalist Announced Click Here.
No limits!Whether you’re an individual, small business or big business – the Serious Games Showcase and Challenge is open to you! Submissions can be targeted to training in any segment, including education, corporate, or military.
If game development is your past-time (indie game developer), your intended field, or your current business… If you can “mod” a game into a training solution, or program one from scratch…consider how you would use your skills to develop a serious game solution to enhance training.
It could put your work in front of some of the best gaming and simulation companies in the world.
The Challenge
For the purpose of the Challenge, entries will be considered a game if they involve an assigned challenge and employ some form of positive and/or negative reward system.
Entries will be considered a serious game if they use the gaming attributes described above to overcome a designated problem or deficiency, and provide appropriate feedback to the user about their efforts. Entered games must target users at the high school level, at a minimum.
Finalists in the Serious Game Showcase & Challenge will be selected by a panel of leaders in the gaming, industry and academic fields, and will be invited to showcase their serious game at I/ITSEC 2009, where over 17,000 attendees will view and vote on each of the finalists. Awards will be presented to the top finishers in each category.The Challenge is open to a wide range of contestants, potential categories include student, individual (indie game developer) / small business, and businesses larger than 500 employees. PC game entries (or compiled for PC execution) will be accepted from virtually any application areas including “mods”, mobile, virtual worlds and original development. Gaming content can be focused on any genre, such as business, education, government.All entries will be judged by representatives in leading gaming, academic and industry companies in three primary areas: Solution to a Stated Problem; Technical Quality; and Playability/Usability.
It is important to clearly define the problem or need that is being addressed, as well as the gaming or game technology solution involved. It is equally important that your entry be not only technologically sound in its development, delivery and user interface, but also engaging, enjoyable, and easy to use; providing a challenging and rewarding experience to the user.
Further, innovative approaches to any of the entered solutions are specifically encouraged and, as such, rewarded in the scoring.
2009 Contest
Awards presentation: 1000 December 03, 2009 at SGS&C Pavilion Booth 331
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Business Finalists
Conspiracy Code360Ed, Inc.
3D adventure game that teaches a full course of High School American history.
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Ship Simulator Professional v2.0VSTEP
Low cost maritime training and game/simulation with an extensive library of military and civilian vessels in realistic sailing environments.
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DimensionM 2009Tabula Digita
Immersive video game world that engages students in learning, applying and reinforcing over 200 different key math and algebraic concepts.
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Vessel Damage Control TrainerBBN Technologies
Provides training on vessel damage control skills while reinforcing decision-making, communication protocol, situational awareness and shipboard navigation.
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Agent Surefire – InfosecMavi Interactive, LLC
Immersive simulation/game to train employees on Clean Desk Policy and Information Security in their physical office space.
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Checkpoint ReconCamber Corporation
A Rules of Engagement familiarization training game. The player roams freely in an Apache helicopter to exercise “tactical patience.”
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Student Finalists
Polyglot CubedUniversity of Miami (OH)
Educational game prototype for learning languages. Aids in the retention of listening vocabulary; and improve comprehension of a variety of languages with minimal training.
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Energy Wars – Rise of the ChimeraQueens University
Strategy/Action game situated on university campus. Allows area exploration, building capture and improvement. Balance capturing tricksters who are damaging an urban area with fixing those urban features to generate green revenue and to prevent future damage.
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NihongoUpLycee Francais de Prague
A Japanese language reviewing tool, that allows you to practice typing correct letter combinations and improve Katakana and Hiragana typing recognition speed, as you review Kanji vocabulary.
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Government Finalists
Procurement Fraud Indicator Mini GameDefense Acquisition University (DAU)
Acquisition training focused on understanding of procurement fraud. Ethical dilemmas serve as indicators of procurement fraud. Students collect evidence, develop theories and question suspects in order to reach a conclusion.
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Computer Based Corpsman Training SystemRDECOM-STTC
CBCTS creates an immersive training environment for the Marine Corps. During the mission a corpsman must balance triage, treatment, and safety to successfully keep his patience alive and prepare them for evacuation.
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Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer (VCAT)USJFCOM-JKDDC
Web-based, game-based training application that teaches cultural awareness using simulated missions. Automatically tailors program of instruction, according to their country of responsibility.
Find the website here.